The price of Surendra Dangol's life: $746

Edward Corliss of Roslindale was ordered held without bail today on charges he gunned down a convenience-store clerk who gave him everything he wanted - which turned out to be $746 in cash, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

RMV photoAt his arraignment in West Roxbury District Court this morning, Corliss, 64, looked every bit the little old man, in a fresh dress shirt and tie supplied by his court-appointed attorney so he wouldn't have to show up on TV looking like he'd spent the long weekend behind bars.

Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan said Corliss, who has a criminal record dating to 1962 - including a conviction for murdering a Salisbury store clerk in 1971 - was running out of money and decided to knock over a convenience store to raise funds on Dec. 26.

Haggan got an accomplice - police say they know who, but he has yet to be arrested - to drive a family member's white Plymouth Acclaim to Centre and Eliot streets in Jamaica Plain and wait while Corliss robbed the Tedeschi shop there, Haggan said.

Haggan said Corliss tried twice to enter the store, but turned back because there was a customer there. Only when the coast was clear, shortly before 3 p.m., did Corliss walk in with a .380-caliber semi-automatic hand gun, wearing a wig, a scarf and a padded coat designed to make him look "thicker," Haggan said. Store surveillance video shows clerk Surendra Dangol fully cooperating with Corliss, filling a backpack with all the cash in the register.

Haggan said Corliss pointed the gun at Dangol and then at a safe. At that point, Dangol's arms were completely outstretched. Then, Haggan said, Corliss fired point blank into the left side of Dangol's chest, sending a bullet into Dangol's heart and lungs, killing him.

Haggan said Corliss got into the car with the accomplice and they took off. At some point, he said, Corliss disposed of the wig, hat, gloves and coat in a Dumpster. After police released video of the car, Haggan said, Corliss went out and bought an MIT alumni sticker and put it on the car, in an attempt to throw off investigators. Haggan said it didn't work, and that police now have a witness to the murder, in addition to the video tapes.

Haggan said Corliss was released on "lifetime parole" in 2006 for the Salisbury murder.

Corliss's attorney, John Hayes, dismissed the DA's "rush to judgment," arguing all investigators have is a bunch of unsubstantiated allegations - and Corliss's admittedly bad record. Police do not actually have a gun, a witness, and the Edward Corliss of 2010 is not the same man who committed a string of B&Es and other offenses through the 1990s, he said. He said he's fully complied with all his parole requirements since his release and that he's lived with the same woman during that period - even marrying her eight months ago.

Hayes also said it was unfair for the Haggan to bring up a 1991 conviction, because the jury only convicted Corliss of leaving the scene of an accident, but acquitted him of a related B&E charge.

He said Corliss cooperated fully with police investigating the Dangol murder, meeting with them at his home several times until he released he was the subject of their investigation.

Corliss is scheduled for a probable-cause hearing in West Roxbury District Court on Feb. 26. A Suffolk County Grand Jury is also investigating the crime, Haggan said.

Dangol's wife and daughter, who flew here from Nepal after his murder - Dangol was saving to bring them over - did not attend today's session. Jake Wark, spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, said they didn't think they could face the man charged with the murder.